Question about the transition.

[SmootSmack]

What about someone like Rocket Ismail, who basically avoided the draft by signing a pro-contract with the CFL before the draft? Or Eric Swann, who played in some minor league before he signed with the Cardinals

[redwagonskins]

you can still draft the rights to a player. look at drew henson, as long as he hasn't signed a contract with anyone, he is still eligible to be drafted. you can go to the CFL if you don't like who drafted you but you go right back in the pool again next year. also, you have to think about contracts and free agency. most of the time, it is better to get signed right away, go through a contract and then get the big time money as a potential free agent then to sit out and then walk in with no performance record.

[hi-jinx]

Lets say player X is drafted by the Cowboys,but hates them (I like the guy already) and goes to play for the CFL. If he wants back into the NFL in the first year, he has to sign with the Cowboy or whomever they trade his rights to. If he wants to enter the next years draft he can do that and Dallas loses his right to him. However if he plays for the CFL for 3 years after being drafted by the Cowboys and then wants to play for the Skins, the Cowboys have the right to match any offer the Skins make. Or they could take a pick or something else in trade.

[hi-jinx]

The thing about the college rule is the NCAA. The NCAA won't allow any player whom is drafted or signs with an agent(which Williams did) come back to play college football. That is unless they make a special exception, which they may in this years cases.

However I guess the guy could be drafted and go back to school to finish his degree, but I can't seee anyone doing this.